Murder trial begins for Faith Hedgepeth, UNC student found dead in apartment over a decade ago

Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares, charged with killing UNC student Faith Hedgepeth. The case, pending for over a decade, is expected to last four weeks.

Jury selection opens in decade-old Faith Hedgepeth murder case

More than ten years after the body of University of North Carolina student Faith Hedgepeth was found in her off-campus apartment in Durham, the murder trial of suspect Miguel Salguero Olivares is finally under way, abc11.com reports.

Retired Superior Court Judge Carl Fox, who has followed the case closely, said the prolonged proceedings have weighed heavily on Hedgepeth's family. "It's one of those cases that's been pending a long time," Fox said. "It's gotten a lot of publicity over that time — it's been a real ordeal for her family."

A breakthrough in the investigation came through genetic genealogy, which led investigators to identify Salguero Olivares as a suspect. Authorities subsequently confirmed his identity via a DNA match obtained during an unrelated traffic stop, resulting in his arrest in 2021.

Fox warned that the case's high public profile could complicate the selection of impartial jurors. "Lots of time can create reasonable doubt in jurors' minds," he said. He also noted that the lengthy and complex investigative history may prove difficult for a jury to follow.

"There was a suspect or suspects, but there was no evidence to tie them to the murder," Fox said. "It's very alarming to have a young woman murdered while attending a university — whether that's on campus or at her residence in an apartment complex. It's a tragic situation, and very sad."

The Durham District Attorney's Office said the trial is expected to run for approximately four weeks.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)